2027: Utomi to Lead Talks With Atiku, Obi, Others on Opposition Consensus Candidate

By Nafiu Muhammad Lema

Professor Pat Utomi is set to lead the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) in negotiations with major opposition presidential candidates and their party leaders as part of efforts to produce a single candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The consultations, which are expected to be completed within two weeks, will seek to establish a framework for a unified opposition challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a statement issued on Monday by MCE Media Coordinator, James Ezema, the meetings will be held behind closed doors to prevent what the movement described as attempts by “political mercenaries and jobbers” to frustrate the negotiations.

Among those expected to participate are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Seyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).

The statement said the Utomi-led Political Commission would engage the shortlisted candidates and their party leaders ahead of a tactical session scheduled to hold in Ibadan in two weeks.

MCE said the closed-door meetings were intended to avoid a recurrence of previous opposition alliances in which parties agreed on the need for unity but became divided over the selection of a presidential candidate.

“Nigeria cannot afford another opposition arrangement in which political actors agree on the need for a united front but disagree when it becomes necessary to determine the arrowhead and rallying point of that electoral alliance,” the statement said.

The movement said the selection process would be guided by credibility, transparency, fairness, due process and a level playing field, with the modalities and terms of endorsement to be agreed upon by all participating candidates and parties.

It listed the proposed criteria for assessing the candidates to include national acceptability, competence, integrity, leadership profile, political electability, policy orientation, commitment to democratic institutions, capacity to unite the country and ability to work with diverse social interests.

The process, it added, would also examine the candidates’ understanding of Nigeria’s political and democratic challenges, including the country’s constitutional question.

MCE stressed that the proposed coalition would not be limited to personalities, but would be built around a clear national programme that Nigerians could examine before deciding whether to support the eventual candidate.

“The Nigerian people deserve more than a coalition of political personalities. They deserve a coalition of ideas, competence, values and a coherent ideological programme for national salvation,” it stated.

The movement said the initiative would seek to produce both a consensus presidential candidate and a common democratic and governance agenda addressing insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, institutional decay, electoral integrity, constitutional reform, education, healthcare, energy and the cost of governance.

It also clarified that its role was to facilitate the process rather than impose a candidate on any party or aspirant.

According to MCE, participating candidates and parties would be expected to commit beforehand to accepting the outcome of the negotiations and supporting whoever emerges as the coalition’s adopted presidential candidate in the 2027 election.

The initiative is coming amid several other efforts to unite opposition parties ahead of the election.

In August, the G100 group of 100 concerned Nigerians called on opposition leaders to set aside personal ambitions and work towards a single presidential candidate, common programme and coordinated strategy.

The group, through its “Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition,” appealed to several opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Seriake Dickson, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rauf Aregbesola, to prioritise national interest over individual ambitions.

The G100 subsequently held consultations with opposition parties, including the ADC, APM, NDC, PDP, PRP and SDP, as part of efforts to develop a framework for cooperation ahead of the 2027 polls.

Utomi will be joined in the MCE consultations by Maryam Ciroma, Modupe Adelaja, Solomon Dalung, Uche Onyeagocha, Olusegun Mayegun, Sam Amadi, Mike Iginni, Obongawan Barbara Etim James, Olawale Okunniyi and Dr Adum Ter Alex, among others.

MCE urged all stakeholders to enter the negotiations with an open mind and place Nigeria’s democratic future above personal interests.

The movement said political negotiation was an unavoidable part of democratic coalition-building and urged opposition actors to be prepared to make sacrifices, accommodate differences and recognise that no individual or party could independently build the broad alliance being proposed.